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| 03.07.2006
Welcome from SRAS!
Foreign policy, like most things complicated, is usually simplified for public consumption. In this simplification, arguments asserting that America, as the world's one superpower, could leave the world to its own devices or bomb anyone whose plans conflict with our own seem almost reasonable. However, we hold that America needs the world just as much as the world needs America and that, taken from an unsimplified stance, others' goals, plans, and ideas hold a discernible logic. As always, this issue of the newsletter is devoted to explaining the cultures and histories behind the logic we can't always readily understand.
Vestnik, The Journal of Russian and Asian Studies is accepting submissions for its fifth issue now! All students are encouraged to submit their best work on any subject concerning Russia or the FSU. Follow the link for details on how to submit.
SRAS still accepting applications for research grants. $1000 is still available for this coming academic year. Applications are also still being accepted for fall semester. Take a look at our political programs page or our program overview page for ideas on how to make study abroad a valuable part of your education and resume. |
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News: Of Conventions and Reports
This month was one for conventions in and reports on Russia. This month's headlines include: WAN Journalists Converge on Moscow; St. Petersburg International Economic Forum; Art Moscow; Racism Reports on Russia; More Bright Forecasts for Russia's Economy; and 1.8 Billion to Judicial Reform. In Russia's near abroad: Ukrainian Coalition - Finally; and Praise for Kazakhstan’s Democracy?
Also, in this month's too-weird-to-be-made-up news: Putin Kisses Boy's Stomach. The link is to a Russian-language video news broadcast. Apparently, stomach kisses are a common technique of Russian faith-healers; Putin can be understood to have just blessed the child - though most Russians found the event very strange as well. |
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Politics and Business Feature: The Library: Resource Extraction and Export
In the last 20 years Russia has gone from being a superpower, to economic ruin, and back to being one of the world's fastest growing economies and political powerhouses. In large part, Russia has its vast resources to thank for this comeback. This new Library entry gives a who's who of Russian companies and a surprising overview of Russia's place on world markets.
The Library gives broad perspectives on specific topics. |
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Culture: Russia Day Evolves
Russia Day is one of the country's newest holidays and many are still at a loss as to how it should be celebrated. However, the holiday already accomplishes what most holidays are meant to accomplish: it reflects the culture's relationship with its own past and present. This new article explores the 15 year-old holiday. |
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Business: Russian IT and Economic Diversification
Daniel Satinsky is an expert on the Russian IT market, having spent more than 15 years working to develop Russian markets. He has recently published a new book (which SRAS founder Renee Stillings contributed to) and given a speech at the Kennan Institute in Washington D.C. about the growth and theoretical implications of the explosion of the Russian IT market. This month, SRAS is proud to feature a synopsis of that speech, submitted by Satinsky and the Kennan Institute. |
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Travel: Ukraine
Travelers are often struck by Kiev's diverse architecture, which mixes Russian with western European styles and features some fascinating examples of early Soviet constructionist buildings. The wide, green streets are arranged to feature prominent buildings and are kept immaculately clean. They offer rewarding sight-seeing strolls and are lined with shops, coffee houses, and pubs. This month's travel entry gives a brief history of Ukraine. |
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Culture: More on the Kyrgyz Language
SRAS continues to expand its online resources for Kyrgyzstan. This month, new entries in the talking English-Kyrgyz phrasebook focus on introductions and directions in Kyrgyz.
Offered in conjunction with Dr. Michael Denner and Mirajidin Arynov of Stetson University and the staff of the American University in Central Asia, each entry of this phrasebook links to an mp3 file with enunciation at slowed and normal speeds. An additional entry on numbers and shopping is planned for next month. |
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Featured Web Resources: Cutting Edge Russian Music
One of the most common questions we get from students after they have arrived in Russia is questions about Russian music - advice for what to listen to and who to find. So, here are a few of the more eclectic bands that we come across. All the links will take you to the band's website where you can listen to their songs for free.
Reelroad' subtitles itself "The Russo-Celtic Orchestra." If you have walked along Nevsky Prospect in the evening, you may have heard this nine-member Russian band playing their traditional Celtic instruments and singing covers of Celtic songs or even original Russian songs composed in the Celtic tradition.
Iva Nova is a St. Petersburg band that blurs the genre line. They sing mostly Slavic folk tunes that have been sped up in tempo and undercut with punk riffs. The accordion player rocks!
Mumiy Troll is very "eighties" with industrial electronic riffs and a whimsical, distinctive singer who sounds perhaps high or drunk or maybe bored as he sings lyrics reminiscent of The Cure. |
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Image of the Month: Abortion in Russia
Russia is facing a demographic crisis. It loses nearly three quarters of million people every year due to abnormally high death rates from accidents, substance abuse, and other causes. It also suffers from one of Europe's highest infertility rates, often caused from environmental factors or from uterine damage from ill-performed or too frequently performed abortions. This month's image looks at the commercialization of abortion in Russia. |
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Language: Program downloading... Программа загрузится...
Computer lingo in Russian is generally based on the English equivalent. For example, the Russian verb "загружать / загрузить" (to load) can be used to mean both "upload" and "download." The direction of the "loading" is usually clear from the context, and the verb will be followed by a preposition. For example, "загружать с сервера" means "to download from a server," "загружать через Интернет" is "to download via the Internet."
In speech, some computer professionals will use English words which have been 'Russified' – даунлоудить and аплоудить are two examples. These words won't be found in technical literature, but you might encounter them on IT forums. There is also the widely accepted slang скачать or скачивать, which carries connotations for most of "to copy" but can also translated as "to skim" or "to draw off."
Thanks to Anna Zvegintov of Kaspersky Lab for contributing to this month's language section. |
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